FOOD AND DRINK TO EVOKE THE SPIRIT OF THE BOOKS

To invite the historical characters to join you, provide the sort of food that they will recognize and like. Here are some of their favorites, nibble-size, and perfect for serving to your book club.

HELEN OF TROY

Honey cakes (baklava)
Small stuffed grape leaves
Figs, raisins, dates
Olives
Fig spread on goat cheese
Goat and sheep cheese, feta cheese
Date nut bread
Grapes
Melon
Edible or candied flowers
Pomegranate juice (blend)
Apricot nectar
wine

MARY, CALLED MAGDALENE

Dates, figs, raisins, nuts (including pistachios & almonds)
olives
Pita bread and hummus
Olive spread
Fig spread on goat cheese
Date nut bread
Grapes
Melon
Goat and sheep cheese
Grape juice
Apricot nectar
Yogurt drinks: pomegranate, date, grape, mint
wine

THE MEMOIRS OF CLEOPATRA

Gummi ‘snakes’
Figs,dates
olives
fig spread on goat cheese
olive spread
Grapes
Date nut bread
Melon
Edible or candied flowers
Grape juice
Apricot nector
Beer
Wine

MARY QUEEN OF SCOTLAND AND THE ISLES

Scottish phase of her life:
Scones
Shortbread
Oatcakes
Marmalade
Scotch whisky (single malt)
French phase of her life:
Cheeses
Strawberry tartlets
Wine

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF HENRY VIII

Beef sandwiches (cocktail size)
Smoked eel on toast (Henry loved eel)
Little meat turnovers
Plum pudding-cupcake size
Little mince pies
Tartlets
Ale
wine